Registering device for gasoline tanks



April 13, 1937.

M GAERTNE R REGISTERING DEVICE FOR GASOLINE TANKS Filed July 20, 1932 INVENTOR flllllllll.

Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Moritz Gaertner, New York, N. Y. Application July 20, 1932, Serial No. 623,542

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a detecting and registering device for containers and espesally for inlets to tanks for gasoline and the .It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which is capable of detecting and registering an act of adulteration or substitution of gasoline and the like.

Heretofore, complicated valves and locks have been installed to prevent adulteration or substitution of gasoline and the like. If these valves and locks have been tampered with and opened, no record of the unauthorized act is made. It is essential and highly desirable to have a record made of the aforesaid acts. As far as I am aware, the art has not been provided with a wholly satisfactory register.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a registering device which will register the opening of the closure to the gasoline or other tank which can be checked and controlled from a central oflice or authorized agent.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a registering device of the character described which is difficult or impossible to tamper with and which will not interfere with the filling of the gasoline tank or the like.

It is particularly within the contemplation of the invention to provide a registering device for registering adulteration or substitution which is especially adapted to gasoline or oil tanks as well as other liquid containers which are liable to be subjected to adulteration or substitution.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a top plan view of my registering device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the improved device taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 depicts a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of an upper part of my device showing certain detailed construction;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of an upper por tion of a modified embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a corrugated measuring stick which is capable of being used in connection with my device.

Generally speaking, the invention contemplates the provision of a registering device capable of 55 providing a registering indication by incorporating an indicator in the detecting apparatus at certain intervals. The indicator is dated and marked and replaced by a new one. The old indicator is taken to the central oflice of distributing agency for inspection and for filing. By treating the indicator with a suitable solu tion, its color or composition will be changed when gasoline or other liquid used in the tank comes in contact therewith. Substances for the aforesaid solution are well known to those skilled in the art. Thus, for instance, the indicator may be treated with an aniline dye such as chrysoidine having a formula of C12HJ3N4C1, or with picric acid having a formula of CoHsNaO'i, or any other appropriate substances which will be affected by or dissolved in gasoline. Of course, the indicator could also be made of material which, when wetted With gasoline or the like, will show easily recognizable changes. In this manner the introduction of spurious or bootleg gasoline into the filling pipe may be easily detected.

For the purpose of giving those skilled in the art a better understanding of my invention, a description of preferred embodiments will be given in conjunction with Figs. 1-6 of the accompanying drawing. A device embodying my invention is placed on a filling pipe S leading to a tank. In the device a registering device N is incorporated. Rod l protrudes from a housing 2 which completely seals the whole mechanism. A spring 3 exerts an upward pressure against rod l and cap C. When the cap is removed, rod l moves up and when pressed down again pawl I engages ratchet 4 and turns it about a central shaft 5 which causes the registering of each movement with a higher number. On numbering device N is a protecting angle 6 which is mounted as close as possible to rod I, so that no accidental interference is possible. A pocket 1 formed by a thin ridge 8, sidewalls 9 and i0 and ceiling II has to be far below the upper edge of pipe S so that a coupling, for instance, of a filling hose will not touch rod I and actuate it.

The preferred construction of such a cap is a bayonet lock formed by slots l3 and pins H. The rim l5 of cup I 6 acts like a spring washer exerting a constant pressure upwards and thereby forces pins i4 into indentation l3 and holds cap C securely in place. Slots 15' make rim l5 more flexible. The cup I6 is best made from resilient tempered metal. As the rim I 5 is larger than opening of the innermost diameter of the pipe S, it will prevent accidental dropping of cup into tank below. The ledge ll of the cap holds cup l6 by extensions l8 which are slightly smaller than slots l9 through which, by a turn of degrees in this case, cup Hi can be taken out of the cap for inspection. A funnel shaped cover 20 prevents drippings from gage 22 from dropping on an indicator strip 2| which is hung up on pins 23 fastened to channel 24. A slot 25 incorporated in cap 0 for gage 22 has a protecting lid 26 with an extension 26' which is set at such an angle that lid 26 can only open less than degrees and will close by its own weight. A leaf spring 21 closes opening 25 and functions as an additional vapor seal.

A modified embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 where cap C is screwed to pipe S. Counting device N operates at the same time as roll 33. In other words, the pawl and ratchet actuate the counting device and roll simultaneously. With each movement a numbered and perforated strip 30 advances with a number corresponding with that of counting device. It is preferred that strip 30 should be torn off and pasted on the record sheet of the delivering company to show that the cap was official- 1y opened and that gasoline or the like was officially introduced in pipe S. Lever 3| turning on hinges 32 is held down by lock 33 passing through extension 34 and passing over or through the other end of the lever whereby it is held fast to the extension 34. The lock prevents unoflicial opening of cap C and the introduction of spurious or bootleg gasoline or the like into pipe S. The extension piece 3| integral with lever 3| will strike rib 35 mounted on casing 36 which supports a cover for the filling pipe and cap, and prevent turning of cap C. When the lock 33 is removed, lever 3! may be raised above casing 36 and the cap unscrewed.

Fig. 6 shows section of measuring stick corrugated so that it can be made not only very rigid but also very light in weight at the same time. Opening 25 can be made correspondingly narrow. The reflecting angle varies in a gage so formed and makes the observation of the dividing line of the wet and dry part of the stick easy observable.

I claim:-

In a registering device capable of being attached to the outside of a filling pipe having a removable cap, the combination comprising a registering device mounted on said filling pipe, a housing for said registering device, an upwardly projecting rod adapted to co-operate with the lower edge of said cap and to actuate said registering device when said cap is removed, and a protecting angle for said rod mounted on said housing to prevent accidental actuation of said registering device.

MORITZ GAERTNER. 

